Header - Short-beaked Echidna
Trip totals: Birds - 252 Mammals - 14 Reptiles - 13
20th Aug-28th Aug
A window opened to allow us to leave the Alice early which we took so as to be across another border and close to home. We stopped to look for Chestnut-breasted Whiteface which we had missed on our way north, this time with success. On to Port Augusta for 2 nights and a walk around the Arid Gardens again. We then had a choice, stay in S.A. or head for home. With the rapid spread of the Delta variant, we chose to come home whilst the borders were still open, so our trip finished on the 28th August. We had been away for 16 weeks.
A window opened to allow us to leave the Alice early which we took so as to be across another border and close to home. We stopped to look for Chestnut-breasted Whiteface which we had missed on our way north, this time with success. On to Port Augusta for 2 nights and a walk around the Arid Gardens again. We then had a choice, stay in S.A. or head for home. With the rapid spread of the Delta variant, we chose to come home whilst the borders were still open, so our trip finished on the 28th August. We had been away for 16 weeks.
14th Aug-19th Aug
We have been a week in Alice Springs now. These images are from locations around Alice.
We have been a week in Alice Springs now. These images are from locations around Alice.
30th Jul - 13th Aug
After visiting Roma our plan was to continue through NSW to VIC but the current covid situation put paid to that. We decided that the safest route home was to re-enter the NT, spend 2 weeks around Alice Springs to cover SA entry requirements and proceed from there.
The images here are from our last bit of travel in QLD.
After visiting Roma our plan was to continue through NSW to VIC but the current covid situation put paid to that. We decided that the safest route home was to re-enter the NT, spend 2 weeks around Alice Springs to cover SA entry requirements and proceed from there.
The images here are from our last bit of travel in QLD.
23rd Jul-29th Jul
A visit to the Bilby Centre and a night stargazing varied our stay in Charleville. It was amazing to see Saturn with a gap between the dust ring and the planet clearly discernible.
We are now in Roma, not knowing whether we will be heading home after our stay or will be forced to continue wandering the north.
A visit to the Bilby Centre and a night stargazing varied our stay in Charleville. It was amazing to see Saturn with a gap between the dust ring and the planet clearly discernible.
We are now in Roma, not knowing whether we will be heading home after our stay or will be forced to continue wandering the north.
16th Jul-22nd Jul
These images are from Longreach and Blackall. We spent a bit more time visiting some of the attractions such as the Stockman's Hall of Fame. We are now in Charleville for a week before moving on.
These images are from Longreach and Blackall. We spent a bit more time visiting some of the attractions such as the Stockman's Hall of Fame. We are now in Charleville for a week before moving on.
8th Jul-15th Jul
An overnight stop at Kynuna via Cloncurry and on to Winton for 7 nights. We spent a lot of time in Bladensburg N.P. - interesting in its different terrain as you drive through. One moment Mitchell Grasses stretch as far as you can see, turn a corner and it looks like you are driving through salt plains. Some of the rivers and creeks have some water in them, ranging from shallow pools to large billabongs.
We did a 250km round trip on the dirt one day to Opalton, again searching for a small and scarce grasswren. We were unsuccessful with the grasswren but enjoyed having an interesting talk with the opal miners.
Another interesting day was spent at the Australian Age Of Dinosaurs Museum where we toured the Fossil Preparation Laboratory, Collection Room and the March of the Titanosaurs Exhibition - a 54m display of dinosaur tracks moved from its original site to protect it from destruction by floods similar to the one that uncovered it.
An overnight stop at Kynuna via Cloncurry and on to Winton for 7 nights. We spent a lot of time in Bladensburg N.P. - interesting in its different terrain as you drive through. One moment Mitchell Grasses stretch as far as you can see, turn a corner and it looks like you are driving through salt plains. Some of the rivers and creeks have some water in them, ranging from shallow pools to large billabongs.
We did a 250km round trip on the dirt one day to Opalton, again searching for a small and scarce grasswren. We were unsuccessful with the grasswren but enjoyed having an interesting talk with the opal miners.
Another interesting day was spent at the Australian Age Of Dinosaurs Museum where we toured the Fossil Preparation Laboratory, Collection Room and the March of the Titanosaurs Exhibition - a 54m display of dinosaur tracks moved from its original site to protect it from destruction by floods similar to the one that uncovered it.
30th Jun-7th Jul
Just over a week spent in Mt Isa. One of our main aims here was to find a bird called Kalkadoon Grasswren. We managed to see the birds but no photo, they are extremely shy. These images were taken at various locations around the town. Lake Moondarra is within 15km of Mt Isa and provides beautiful scenery, abundant wildlife and is set up for locals as a weekend picnic and water sports activity area.
Just over a week spent in Mt Isa. One of our main aims here was to find a bird called Kalkadoon Grasswren. We managed to see the birds but no photo, they are extremely shy. These images were taken at various locations around the town. Lake Moondarra is within 15km of Mt Isa and provides beautiful scenery, abundant wildlife and is set up for locals as a weekend picnic and water sports activity area.
26th-29th Jun
Crossing the border, we spent 2 nights at Camooweal and visited Nowranie N.P. We are now in Mt Isa for 9 nights.
Crossing the border, we spent 2 nights at Camooweal and visited Nowranie N.P. We are now in Mt Isa for 9 nights.
22nd-25th Jun
We returned to Pine Creek and accessed Kakadu from there before backtracking through Daly Waters and Tennant Creek with a stop at Barkly Homestead (petrol 198.9) before crossing the border into Qld.
We returned to Pine Creek and accessed Kakadu from there before backtracking through Daly Waters and Tennant Creek with a stop at Barkly Homestead (petrol 198.9) before crossing the border into Qld.
15th-21st Jun
The last 6 days have seen us exploring Darwin parks and 2 visits to Fogg Dam, a mixture of water and jungle habitats. Water is plentiful and the vegetation is recovering from the wet season. Tracks are still partially or fully closed as clean up continues, though vegetation is very lush.
Travelling the Stuart Hwy, we pass through regular burns and see the green carpet where the earlier burns are resprouting.
The last 6 days have seen us exploring Darwin parks and 2 visits to Fogg Dam, a mixture of water and jungle habitats. Water is plentiful and the vegetation is recovering from the wet season. Tracks are still partially or fully closed as clean up continues, though vegetation is very lush.
Travelling the Stuart Hwy, we pass through regular burns and see the green carpet where the earlier burns are resprouting.
13th-14th Jun
Another 2 night stop, this time at Pine Creek prior to getting to Darwin. Being the long w/e, people were everywhere but we still managed to see some familiar faces, fellow members of the FNCV. We met up with them again around dusk to observe a colony of Ghost Bats, a bonus for us as the location is not widely known.
Another 2 night stop, this time at Pine Creek prior to getting to Darwin. Being the long w/e, people were everywhere but we still managed to see some familiar faces, fellow members of the FNCV. We met up with them again around dusk to observe a colony of Ghost Bats, a bonus for us as the location is not widely known.
11th-12th Jun
We spent 2 nights at Victoria River Roadhouse, appreciating the surrounding escarpments and the river views. Our main aim was to find the Purple-crowned Fairy-wren. Successful in our search we had time to find some other nice species.
We spent 2 nights at Victoria River Roadhouse, appreciating the surrounding escarpments and the river views. Our main aim was to find the Purple-crowned Fairy-wren. Successful in our search we had time to find some other nice species.
8th - 10th Jun
Through the back gate of our accommodation and a walk along the Katherine River was the first activity of our stay. Next day we were off to Edith Falls and a small waterhole good for the variety of finches normally seen. Not this time, our rock pool was a huge lagoon, a result of the an overabundant rainy season. The following day we visited Katherine Gorge, again, water was abundant and some activities such as swimming and canoeing, were banned (not that it worried us).
Through the back gate of our accommodation and a walk along the Katherine River was the first activity of our stay. Next day we were off to Edith Falls and a small waterhole good for the variety of finches normally seen. Not this time, our rock pool was a huge lagoon, a result of the an overabundant rainy season. The following day we visited Katherine Gorge, again, water was abundant and some activities such as swimming and canoeing, were banned (not that it worried us).
2nd - 7th Jun
From Alice Springs we drove to Tenant Creek then Daly Waters for overnight stops before eventually arriving for a stay at Mataranka. A coffee break at Renner Springs along the way showed us just how big a wet season the north has had. At Mataranka, walks that we remembered and were looking forward to repeating were closed following the flood damage. We still managed to find some open tracks and took full advantage of them. We arrived at Katherine today and begin exploring tomorrow.
From Alice Springs we drove to Tenant Creek then Daly Waters for overnight stops before eventually arriving for a stay at Mataranka. A coffee break at Renner Springs along the way showed us just how big a wet season the north has had. At Mataranka, walks that we remembered and were looking forward to repeating were closed following the flood damage. We still managed to find some open tracks and took full advantage of them. We arrived at Katherine today and begin exploring tomorrow.
28th May - 1st Jun
The scenery around Alice Springs is amazing, especially the West MacDonnell Ranges with the ancient red rocky backgrounds and the hardy trees and grasses. The last 2 years have been good to the Red Centre, waterholes are the highest we have ever seen them, rocky pools are in the river beds are still drying out.
With the good conditions, birds are breeding profusely with Budgerigars and Zebra Finches absolutely everywhere.
The scenery around Alice Springs is amazing, especially the West MacDonnell Ranges with the ancient red rocky backgrounds and the hardy trees and grasses. The last 2 years have been good to the Red Centre, waterholes are the highest we have ever seen them, rocky pools are in the river beds are still drying out.
With the good conditions, birds are breeding profusely with Budgerigars and Zebra Finches absolutely everywhere.
25th-27th May
There are 2 spots in Alice Springs we always enjoy, the Olive Pink Botanical Gardens and the Desert Park. These images are from those areas. The Black-Cockatoo and Barn Owl and are captive birds at the Desert Park but can be seen in the wild with a bit of effort unlike the Princess Parrots (also captive), which are extremely difficult to locate as they are highly nomadic and range over remote arid areas.
There are 2 spots in Alice Springs we always enjoy, the Olive Pink Botanical Gardens and the Desert Park. These images are from those areas. The Black-Cockatoo and Barn Owl and are captive birds at the Desert Park but can be seen in the wild with a bit of effort unlike the Princess Parrots (also captive), which are extremely difficult to locate as they are highly nomadic and range over remote arid areas.
20th-24th May
After staying at Coober Pedy for a few nights, we moved on to Marla for an overnight stop then on to Alice Springs. A quiet day Monday catching up with shopping. We will be in The Alice for another 9 nights. Images from Coober Pedy and highway travel.
After staying at Coober Pedy for a few nights, we moved on to Marla for an overnight stop then on to Alice Springs. A quiet day Monday catching up with shopping. We will be in The Alice for another 9 nights. Images from Coober Pedy and highway travel.
17th-19th May
We completed a 3 night stay at Wirraminna Station, a working cattle station 3075 square km in size which carries approx. 13000 head of Shorthorn cattle plus calves. The managers had never compiled a bird list, so having the run of the station we started one for them with 25 species.
We completed a 3 night stay at Wirraminna Station, a working cattle station 3075 square km in size which carries approx. 13000 head of Shorthorn cattle plus calves. The managers had never compiled a bird list, so having the run of the station we started one for them with 25 species.
14th-16th May.
Arriving in Port Augusta for a 3 night stop, we spent most of our time in the Port Augusta Arid Lands Botanical Gardens. Cool weather and 15-20 knot winds kept much of the wildlife quiet but we still managed a good variety of species, many of which were new to us at this site. The images below show the gardens where left natural and where planted out. The gardens are known for the number of varieties of Eromophila.
Arriving in Port Augusta for a 3 night stop, we spent most of our time in the Port Augusta Arid Lands Botanical Gardens. Cool weather and 15-20 knot winds kept much of the wildlife quiet but we still managed a good variety of species, many of which were new to us at this site. The images below show the gardens where left natural and where planted out. The gardens are known for the number of varieties of Eromophila.
9th - 13th May.
Leaving for Ouyen early Sunday morning, we were finally underway on our first extended trip since Covid struck. The town of Sea Lake was a handy spot to stop for coffee and cake later in the day. At the entrance to the town were painted silos. Great works of art in both content and execution of scale. After our break, we stopped at Lake Tyrrell, the largest inland salt lake in Victoria. Our timing wasn't the best for spectacular photos of the lake but some of the birds were co-operative.
The following 2 days were spent in Hattah-Kulkyne N.P. searching for the elusive Mallee Emu-wren, without success, so it remains our number one "bogey' bird. Other species were less shy and allowed some images to be obtained.
The next day we left for Adelaide as our stopover before continuing to Port Augusta, where I am writing this. We met a friend, Mike, at the known place to find Barbary Dove, but again, despite 2 visits and approx 2 1/2 hours searching we were, again, unsuccessful in finding our target. Still, we are travelling and feeling good about it.
Leaving for Ouyen early Sunday morning, we were finally underway on our first extended trip since Covid struck. The town of Sea Lake was a handy spot to stop for coffee and cake later in the day. At the entrance to the town were painted silos. Great works of art in both content and execution of scale. After our break, we stopped at Lake Tyrrell, the largest inland salt lake in Victoria. Our timing wasn't the best for spectacular photos of the lake but some of the birds were co-operative.
The following 2 days were spent in Hattah-Kulkyne N.P. searching for the elusive Mallee Emu-wren, without success, so it remains our number one "bogey' bird. Other species were less shy and allowed some images to be obtained.
The next day we left for Adelaide as our stopover before continuing to Port Augusta, where I am writing this. We met a friend, Mike, at the known place to find Barbary Dove, but again, despite 2 visits and approx 2 1/2 hours searching we were, again, unsuccessful in finding our target. Still, we are travelling and feeling good about it.
28/04/21 - Leaving Melbourne on May 9th, heading north through the Mallee, Adelaide and up the centre to Darwin. Home run will probably be through The Gulf and Channel Country of western QLD